Chapter 122: The Bitter Fruit
A night breeze whispered through the cool pavilion, stirring waves across the lotus pond and carrying wafts of their fragrance.
Moonlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, illuminating the tourmaline beads Empress Dowager Jiang idly twisted between her fingers. The lustrous, translucent beads were loosely coiled twice around her wrist. Though her hands were well-maintained, the slackening skin and increasingly prominent veins silently testified to the passage of youth.
After rotating the beads halfway, an elderly matron approached the pavilion and bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, all arrangements have been made."
Empress Dowager Jiang offered no response, merely closing her eyes as she continued twisting the tourmaline beads. The matron quietly retreated to stand at her side.
After some time had passed, the Empress Dowager finally lifted her gaze to the melting moonlight beyond the pavilion. "Even in death, Consort Shu has left me such a tremendous scourge."
The matron responded, "Consort Shu and her son are dead. The one now enthroned is our King, and you hold sway over the entire royal palace of King Chen. Though their final struggle wounded His Majesty and left him with that hidden ailment, there are still remedies, are there not? Why trouble your heart over two who are already gone?"
These words seemed to strike a chord with Empress Dowager Jiang. She sighed, "They say misfortune lies within blessing, and blessing lurks in misfortune. Perhaps everything is destined by fate. Had the King not suffered that hidden ailment, he might not have tolerated the Jiang Family's current glory."
King Chen's ascension to the throne had relied heavily on the support of the maternal Jiang clan. Yet newly crowned kings often chafe under the influence of their maternal relatives, typically cultivating their own loyalists before moving to purge the external clan.
The Jiang Family had risked total annihilation should the succession struggle fail, all for the pursuit of wealth and status—not to face reckoning afterward.
Empress Dowager Jiang served as the mediating force. However, with the Chen Kingdom beset by internal strife and external threats, even with the Jiang Family's full support, King Chen's hold on the throne remained precarious. Compelled by circumstance, the Empress Dowager sought a marriage alliance with Great Liang to secure military aid, drawing a more powerful ally for herself and her son.
This caused a rift with the Jiang Family, who had supported King Chen's bid for the throne with the intention of installing a Jiang daughter as queen. That way, any prince born of the new queen would continue to rely on the Jiang Family, just as Empress Dowager Jiang and the then-heir King Chen had, ensuring the clan's enduring influence.
With Great Liang's interference, the queenship slipped beyond the Jiang Family's grasp. The highest honor they could now aspire to was having their daughter named Noble Consort.
Yet without Great Liang's assistance, should King Chen fail in the succession struggle, the entire Jiang Family would have faced immediate purge by Consort Shu's faction. Ultimately, the Jiang Family had no choice but to grudgingly accept a consort position for their daughter.
Unexpectedly, during the fierce battle for succession, Consort Shu's faction made a desperate final assault. In the chaos, King Chen was struck by a blade in his lower abdomen, leaving him with a permanent hidden ailment.
From then on, King Chen never recovered his spirit, his temperament growing increasingly somber and eccentric. He relinquished governance to Chancellor Jiang, though loyal old ministers unaware of the truth—frustrated by the King's apparent abdication of responsibility—formed a counterbalance against the Chancellor in court.
Fearing that daughters of officials entering the palace through selection might eventually discover King Chen's condition—prompting the loyal old guard to seek a new king from the royal clan—Empress Dowager Jiang and the Jiang Family used the King's marriage contract with Wen Yu as pretext to cancel the selection process.To avoid arousing suspicion, only the maidservants who had served King Chen since his days as the crown prince were kept in the palace. These women were of low status, some even of servant origin, making them easy to control.
At this time, Empress Dowager Jiang and the Jiang Family reached a consensus: the throne must not fall into others' hands. Since King Chen had a hidden ailment, why not let a descendant of the Jiang Family become the royal heir?
However, the Liang woman was of noble status and had the entire state of Liang as her backing after marriage. Rather than having a Jiang daughter enter the palace to bear a child and contend with the Liang woman, it would be far more profitable to have the Liang woman herself bear a child with Jiang blood.
Among the younger generation of the Jiang Family, Jiang Yu stood out most in appearance and capability, secretly admired by countless noblewomen in the capital.
If Jiang Yu could charm the Liang woman into losing her senses and secretly forming an illicit relationship with him, she would inevitably align herself with the Jiang Family.
This was precisely why Empress Dowager Jiang and the Jiang Family had sent Jiang Yu to escort the bride.
But with her nephew uncooperative and the Liang woman remarkably shrewd, Empress Dowager Jiang had no choice but to resort to tonight's scheme.
The charge of "adultery" would be enough leverage to control the Liang woman in the future. Once she bore a child with Jiang blood, even for her own and her child's sake, she would no longer oppose the Jiang Family.
After all, when the state of Chen helped her reclaim Liang, it would be her Wen Shi lineage ruling over both kingdoms.
The Empress Dowager halted her thoughts, glanced at the sky, and said, "It's getting late. Let's proceed to Jianning Palace."
The path from the Moon-Viewing Pavilion to Jianning Palace wasn't far. Two palace maids walked ahead carrying lanterns while the Empress Dowager, leaning on an elderly maid's arm, passed unhurriedly through a moon gate. There, she spotted an Imperial Guard peering furtively from behind a rockery who immediately fled upon seeing her—a highly suspicious act.
Recalling the trap she had set at Jianning Palace, Empress Dowager Jiang's expression darkened as she ordered, "Stop that Imperial Guard."
An accompanying eunuch immediately shouted, "Halt! How dare you flee without paying respects to Her Majesty?"
While he called out, other eunuchs rushed to pursue the guard. Distant patrolling Imperial Guards seemed alerted and were approaching.
Seeing escape was impossible, the guard ceased resistance and was quickly brought before Empress Dowager Jiang.
Facing interrogation, he clutched his stomach with a pained expression, pleading, "Your Majesty, forgive this lowly one! I didn't mean to disregard your procession—I simply ate something spoiled and was desperately seeking a latrine. I feared offending Your Majesty's eyes and thus didn't dare approach..."
Without a word, Empress Dowager Jiang left the guard kneeling by the path and hurried toward Jianning Palace, noticeably quickening her pace.
The elderly maid, aware of the Empress Dowager's concealed concerns, silently matched her swift steps while supporting her arm.
As they rounded the rockery grove nearing Jianning Palace, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards suddenly reappeared, blocking Empress Dowager Jiang's path.
"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty," the deputy commander greeted with a respectful fist-and-palm salute.
Seeing him, Empress Dowager Jiang grew more convinced of her suspicions. Though uncertain what King Chen intended at Jianning Palace, she would not tolerate him disrupting her plans. Her tone turned cold and warning when addressing the deputy commander: "With the Mid-Autumn palace banquet tonight, the royal palace is under strict guard. The Imperial Guards bear heavy responsibilities. Deputy Commander Yan, why are you here instead of remaining on duty at Taiji Palace?"
The deputy commander replied, "Your humble servant was merely passing through during patrols."Empress Dowager Jiang's gaze held scrutiny as she looked at the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards for a moment before saying, "Deputy Commander Yan, since you are on duty, you may continue your patrol."
With that, she prepared to lead her entourage past the Deputy Commander and his guards toward Jianning Palace, but the Deputy Commander showed no intention of stepping aside.
This finally provoked Empress Dowager Jiang's anger, and the elderly matron accompanying her sternly rebuked, "How dare you block the Empress Dowager's path?"
The Deputy Commander knelt on one knee with his Imperial Guards, the clatter of armor echoing as he said, "We are merely following orders. I beg Your Majesty not to make this difficult for us."
Empress Dowager Jiang, enraged to the extreme, let out a cold laugh: "Even when the late king was alive, no matter how favored Consort Shu was, not even her dogs dared block my way. Deputy Commander Yan, you truly are quite impressive!"
She deliberately emphasized the word "Deputy."
The Deputy Commander bowed his head even lower in fear: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
At that moment, thick smoke suddenly billowed from Jianning Palace, with faint tongues of flame flickering. Empress Dowager Jiang's anger turned to alarm as she shouted, "Fire! Quickly, put out the fire!"
The thought that King Chen, in a fit of rage, might have set fire to Jiang Yu and Wen Yu caused Empress Dowager Jiang's limbs to grow weak with fear.
One was her most beloved nephew, the other was the Princess of Daliang—the key to maintaining the alliance between Chen and Daliang, and the Queen of Chen.
If anything happened to these two, the entire kingdom of Chen would be thrown into chaos.
The Deputy Commander, turning to see the flames, broke into a cold sweat. He dared to confront Empress Dowager Jiang and the entire Jiang Family, pledging loyalty to King Chen, all for the chance at a future position of authority second only to the king.
After all, in present-day Chen, from the court to the military, the Jiang Family held sway. His father had long held differing political views from Chancellor Jiang, and since entering court, he had faced constant suppression from the Jiang Family. To rise above, he had to break free from their control.
The old ministers loyal to the royal faction had painstakingly secured him the position of Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards. He had become their eyes and ears close to King Chen, finally earning the king's trust and learning the truth behind King Chen's absurd behavior. Regarded as King Chen's only confidant, he naturally sought to climb even higher.
If he revealed the truth to the old ministers and they installed a new monarch, he might not retain his current status.
So tonight, upon learning of Empress Dowager Jiang's movements through his informants within the Imperial Guards, he had promptly informed King Chen.
King Chen also feared that if the Liang woman bore a child with Jiang blood, Empress Dowager Jiang and the Jiang Family would abandon him entirely and support a new ruler. The old ministers loyal to him had long been disillusioned; given a new king, they would readily transfer their hopes.
By then, if King Chen were to "die suddenly," likely no court official would question it.
To avoid that dead end, King Chen had been secretly scheming to thwart Empress Dowager Jiang and the Jiang Family's plans.
The Liang woman was King Chen's greatest safeguard. As long as her child was not of Jiang blood, she and the Jiang Family would remain opposed.
Empress Dowager Jiang sought to control the Liang woman with charges of adultery, and King Chen aimed to do the same.
The Imperial Guards he had sent to keep watch, upon noticing the Empress Dowager's approach, deliberately created a disturbance to signal. He had promptly dispatched someone to urge King Chen into action while leading his men here to intercept the Empress Dowager. How could Jianning Palace have suddenly caught fire?The deputy commander of the Imperial Guards swallowed nervously, as fearful as the Empress Dowager that King Chen might have set the fire in a fit of madness. Without further delay, he led the Imperial Guards to rush to the rescue.
Empress Dowager Jiang, supported by an elderly maid, was frantic to see the situation inside Jianning Palace but was restrained by the maid who feared for her safety.
Overwhelmed with sorrow, Empress Dowager Jiang wept, "My Yu'er..."
As her words faded, clamor arose from behind. Turning, she saw the court officials from Taiqi Palace had arrived.
Her eyelids twitching nervously, Empress Dowager Jiang asked the officials, "What brings you all here?"
Several martial generals at the forefront snatched buckets from the firefighting palace attendants, dousing themselves with the water inside. "We heard Jianning Palace is on fire and the King is trapped inside," they declared. "We have come to rescue His Majesty. Your Highness need not worry—we will surely bring the King out!"
With that, the generals charged into the smoke-filled Jianning Palace as if competing for merit. Empress Dowager Jiang's heart raced, terrified that their "adultery" would be exposed. She wanted to stop them but it was too late.
The elderly ministers, their hair half-white, stood at the periphery, held back by eunuchs and Imperial Guards, weeping and shouting "Your Majesty" with hoarse voices.
Empress Dowager Jiang exchanged a glance with Chancellor Jiang, who had come with the officials. In each other's eyes, they saw a resolve to sacrifice a part to save the whole.
Though her limbs were still weak, in that instant, Empress Dowager Jiang began plotting how to shift all the blame onto Wen Yu, minimizing the losses for their Chen Kingdom.
If Jiang Yu died in the fire, the coroner need only insist the body was not his, substituting a scapegoat.
If he survived, they could fake his death to let him escape, using death to atone for his sins and shield the Jiang Family from repercussions.
As for Wen Yu... her adultery with a subject, accidentally knocking over a candle and causing the fire—whether she lived or died, the fault was hers alone. Even if the Liang Kingdom had doubts, with witnesses and evidence in place, they could not rightfully demand justice.
Even if the alliance collapsed, as long as the stain was on Wen Yu, the Liang Kingdom would be at fault. Perhaps the Liang officials would even descend into chaos thereafter.
Yet, faced with great benefits, some Liang officials would surely continue cooperating for their own prospects, though the process would become more complicated.
Amid the growing flames, Empress Dowager Jiang numbly calculated the challenges ahead, reassuring herself that it was manageable—everything could still be resolved.
Soon, people emerged from Jianning Palace.
But whether they were the rescuing generals or Imperial Guards, their expressions were peculiarly strained.
The elderly ministers outside grew especially agitated. Seeing King Chen wrapped in a quilt and carried out, they wept and clamored to approach, crying "Your Majesty!"
With so many people—all esteemed senior ministers who could not be jostled—the Imperial Guards and generals dared not block them. In the pushing, a corner of the thin quilt covering King Chen slipped, and the elderly ministers froze like stone upon seeing the marks on his body.
Beneath the quilt, a faint scent of blood and latrine odors hinted at something more.
King Chen was pale as paper, his gaze vacant, showing no reaction even when brought before the crowd.
It was the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, who had carried King Chen out, who acted swiftly, pulling the quilt back over him. His own face was ashen and grim as he said, "Summon the royal physician."Empress Dowager Jiang stood outside the crowd, her initial concern directed at Jiang Yu being carried away. She observed that although Jiang Yu had removed his armor, his inner garments remained intact, and he showed no signs of burns—only a few footprints marked his face. A faint unease stirred in her heart.
Turning her head, she saw King Chen being carried out, followed by a bald-headed man dragged out like livestock, shirtless and weeping with snot and tears streaming down his face, pleading ignorance and begging for mercy. Empress Dowager Jiang’s temples throbbed violently as she demanded, “Where is the Queen? Wasn’t she supposed to have come to change her attire?”
“Is Mother looking for me?” A voice colder than the night breeze came from beyond the crowd.
The palace attendants and officials parted to make way, following the sound. Wen Yu stood there in the same resplendent robes she had worn at the palace banquet, the floral adornment at her brow unchanged, glowing under the moonlight like a golden lotus in full bloom—magnificent and dignified.
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